Gamble’s two touchdown ties NCAA record

After watching Darryl Gamble return two interceptions for touchdowns and pile up a bunch of tackles for the second consecutive week, it’s hard to remember that he’s actually a backup middle linebacker filling in for injured starter Dannell Ellerbe.

But that won’t be mentioned to the record book. Gamble’s two TD returns ties the NCAA record for a linebacker.

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Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com

Linebacker Darryl Gamble dives into the end zone for the second of his two interception returns for touchdowns against LSU on Saturday.

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“I hadn’t heard that ‘til you told me just now,” said Gamble, who finished with 13 tackles Saturday. “I guess that is a big compliment for me.”

It is. The question now is what happens this week when Dannell Ellerbe is expected to return . Ellerbe, a preseason All-SEC selection, has missed the last three games and all but three plays against Alabama with a sprained left knee.

“I really don’t know,” said Gamble, a sophomore from Bainbridge. “It’ll still be neck-and-neck. He’s already proven himself to be All-SEC type player. I’m looking to do the same. I guess it’s up to the coaches.”

Gamble’s interceptions came at the beginning and end of Saturday’s game. The last one was a 53-yarder that pretty much iced the victory with 3:18 remaining. The first, a 40-yarder, came on LSU’s first play.

“We went over that play a lot,” Gamble said. “I watched a little more film this week and I knew when they came up in that formation they were going to try to throw a slant over there. I read it, so I’d say Coach Martinez prepped me for it.”

The Bulldogs played only four scholarship players at the two inside positions Saturday, so Gamble said he’ll welcome Ellerbe’s return.

Looking ahead to Gators

The Bulldogs gave up nearly 500 yards to LSU, allowed 21 points in the second half, and gave up single plays of 66, 43, 42 and 35 yards. But there was no question how defensive coordinator Willie Martinez felt about his group’s performance after they

“I’m very happy, very happy,” Martinez said after the Bulldogs’ 52-38 win in Tiger Stadium. “I’m ecstatic. I’m excited. It’s kind of hard to come here and win. That’s number one.

“Can we play better? Yeah. That’s the exciting thing about it. We scored twice on defense but we didn’t tackle well. I think we got tired and that hurt us a little bit. But I’m excited about winning.”

Martinez was asked if he thought his unit relaxed after twice going ahead by 21 points in the fourth quarter.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “We’re not happy about it. We had a couple of missed tackles, couple of mental errors. But those things can be corrected.”

Certainly Florida, which put 65 points on Kentucky Saturday, is licking its chops at the sight of such breakdowns.

“We’re a different team than Kentucky,” linebacker Darryl Gamble said.

White suits up

Sometimes there is nothing better than a good nap. Just ask Georgia tight end Aron White. He gets a lot out of his.

Before Saturday, the last we heard was that the redshirt freshman wasn’t going to make the trip because of a shoulder injury sustained in Tuesday’s practice. That was Richt’s message on Thursday, the last interview opportunity each week.

Next thing we know White was running down the field with a 48-yard catch that got the Bulldogs out of a hole against LSU.

Richt said he wasn’t trying to mislead anyone.

“After I met with the media on Thursday, [director of sports medicine] Ron [Courson] came up to me and said, ‘Aron took a nap today and when he woke up he felt good,’” Richt said. “I don’t know what he was dreaming about but it was a good thing.”

White validated Richt’s version.

“They said I made this miraculous recovery,” said White, who was in for one other play. ” I got back my range of motion and most of my strength. When it came down to it they brought me along and I was excited I got a chance to play.”

As it turns out White made one of the biggest plays of the game.

Georgia was backed up at its own 11 after Remarcus Brown bobbled a kickoff return in the third quarter . But on the first play, Stafford hit an open White down the left sideline. Just like that the Bulldogs had flipped field position back into their favor.

White, known for his good speed , caught flak from teammates for not taking it the distance.

“They said I looked a little slow but I was being cautious out there, trying to protect my shoulder and hold onto the ball,” White said.

“I couldn’t run away from him this time. Maybe next time.”